All 42 Commemorative Birth Certificates can be viewedon our website www.gov.bc.ca/vitalstatistics.

Contact Customer Service at:250-952-2681 (Victoria & outside BC)or Toll Free at 1-888-876-1633 (within BC)

To view this brochure in other languages, visit:www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/vital-statistics/births-adoptions/births/birth-registration

Cost: $27.00 per certificate Cost: $27.00 per certificate

The two types of birth certificates are shown below:

The certificate is 12.5 cm wide by 17.6 cm high. As a fraud prevention measure, birth certificates in Canada are printed on special certificate paper with unique security features.

Our Online Birth Registration Service makes it quick and easy to complete up to five applications with one visit.

• Register your baby’s birth and legal name•Apply for your baby’s first birth certificate• Enrol your baby in the Medical Services

Plan for B.C. Residents•Apply for Canada Child Benefits•Apply for your baby’s Social Insurance

Number

OFFICIAL BIRTH CERTIFICATES

A birth certificate is a foundation identity document. Your child needs a birth certificate to obtain access to many government programs and benefits.

A parental birth certificate is required for your child to obtain a passport.

Parental Birth Certificate Individual Birth Certificate

• child’s name• date of birth• place of birth• sex• name of parent(s)• birthplace of parent(s)

Includes:

• child’s name• date of birth• place of birth• sex

Includes:

COMMEMORATIVE BIRTHCERTIFICATES

These large decorative certificates are a beautiful way to commemorate a birth. Each 28 cm x 35.5 cm certificate prominently presents the child’s name, date of birth, timeof birth, birth weight, place of birth, and sex.

Commemorative Birth Certificates are not accepted for official identification.

Go to: www.gov.bc.ca/vitalstatistics

So easy, some babies may try to register themselves.

Online Birth Registration

For security purposes, only TWO of each type of Official Birth Certificate may be ordered.

Cost: $50.00 per certificate

VSA 404_ebr 2017/01/12

Naming a child and registering his or her birth are important responsibilities as registration is the only way to create a permanent legal record of a person’s birth. There is no cost to register a child within 30 days of the birth; however, there may be a fee for registrations submitted after this time.

BIRTH REGISTRATION SERVICES

MEDICAL SERVICES PLAN FORB.C. RESIDENTS

If you have Medical Service Plan (MSP) coverage, you can enrol your baby in MSP when you register the birth. To apply, the mother gives her consent for the BC Vital Statistics Agency to release her newborn’s information to Health Insurance BC (HIBC), which administers MSP.

APPLYING FOR CANADA CHILD BENEFITS

To apply for Canada child benefits, the mother needs to provide her Social Insurance Number, and authorize the release of the necessary information to the Canada Revenue Agency. For further information, including information relating to your privacy rights, go towww.cra.gc.ca/aba or call 1-800-387-1193.

REGISTERING THE BIRTH OF YOUR NEWBORN

APPLYING FOR A SOCIAL INSURANCE NUMBER

I don’t have a credit card. Can I still register my baby’s birth online?Yes. Birth registration is free if completed within 30 days.You only need a credit card if you are ordering a birth certificate. It is not mandatory to order a birth certificate when you register your newborn.

Can I list a parent other than the father?If you are the birth mother and have made other parentage arrangements through a written agreement made before your child was conceived through assisted reproduction, additional parents may be recorded. Contact the Vital Statistics Agency for details as additional statutory declarations will be required.

At the same time that you register your child’s birth, you have the option to apply for a birth certificate, Medical Services Plan coverage, Canada child benefits, and a Social Insurance Number.

Approximately 20 minutes on a computer.

Presence of the mother, and father/parent if both are being recorded on the child’s birth registration.

Date of your child’s birth.

Names you have chosen for your child. Name of the hospital or other place in B.C. where the birth took place.

Parents’ surnames as they appear on current birth certificates or change of name certificates.

Parents’ dates and places of birth, and current ages.

Parents’ Personal Health Numbers.

Credit card if you want to apply for a birth certificate when you register your child (VISA, MasterCard, or American Express). Birth certificates are $27.00 each.

You will need the following before beginning to register your baby’s birth:

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

For further information, including information about the collection and use of personal information and eligibility, contact HIBC at 604-683-7151 from the Lower Mainland, or 1-800-663-7100 from the rest of B.C. Visit the website at: www.hibc.gov.bc.ca.

What if I don’t have access to a computer or Internet?You can request a paper birth registration form by calling 250-952-2681 in Victoria, or 1-888-876-1633 elsewhere in B.C. Submit the paper registration to the Vital Statistics Agency by mail.

How long will it take for me to receive my baby’s birth certificate?If all of the necessary information is correctly completed, processing and mail time is approximately 3 weeks.

To apply for your newborn’s SIN, simply provide your consent and the necessary information will be forwarded to Service Canada. Service Canada will process the request and mail your newborn’s SIN directly to you. There is no fee to apply.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it safe to register my baby’s birth online?Yes. We are committed to protecting your privacy and keeping your information secure. The latest technology is used to ensure your child’s birth registration information is transmitted safely.

Who should register my baby’s birth online?If the mother and father/parent are both being recorded on the birth registration, then both must be present at the computer. If the father/parent is not being recorded on the registration, the mother may complete the registration on her own. If the father/parent is deceased or not present in the country, contact the Vital Statistics Agency to discuss options.

Why should I use this service?Electronic Birth Registration is the fastest and easiest way to register your child, get a birth certificate, and apply for MSP coverage, Canada child benefits, and a SIN. Applying online saves you the extra work of repeating the same information on four forms.

What do you mean by maiden surname?The mother’s maiden surname is the last name on her birth certificate, or, if a legal change of name is completed, the last name on her change of name certificate. In Canada, the mother’s maiden surname is always listed on the child’s birth registration and the parental birth certificate, even if she is married.

For further information, including information relating to your privacy rights, go to www.servicecanada.gc.ca.

This optional service allows parents to apply for their child’s Social Insurance Number (SIN), which is required to

access various Government of Canada programs and benefits, including the Canada Learning Bond and the Canada Education Savings Grant.

By law, you must register the birth and legal name of your child within 30 days of the birth.

Go to: www.gov.bc.ca/vitalstatistics